Chapter 14 - Rebecca Chooses a Side
Rebecca brought the laptop in a sealed evidence bag.
Her attorney handled the transfer.
Detective Torres documented everything.
Daniel watched from across the room.
Rebecca avoided his eyes.
Forensic examination showed the laptop had been used to generate the Bellweather forms.
His copied signature had been imported from a genuine school document he signed two years earlier.
The same device contained drafts of the corporate proxy.
The durable power of attorney.
Audio-editing software.
And an Excel sheet titled:
TRANSITION WEEK
The wedding day was row one.
4:00 P.M. — Ceremony.
5:05 — Emily departs.
7:30 — E. flight north.
8:00 — Reception speeches.
10:30 — Daniel leaves hotel.
Next morning:
9:00 — Rebecca returns.
2:00 P.M. — Italy departure.
Two days later:
8:30 — Extraordinary shareholder call.
Daniel stared.
His life had been reduced to a timetable.
Maya asked Rebecca, “Who created this?”
“Caleb.”
“On your computer?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because he didn’t want it on Mercer systems.”
“Did you participate?”
“Yes.”
Rebecca’s voice was almost inaudible.
Daniel finally spoke.
“Why did you need Emily gone?”
Rebecca looked at him.
“Because she had seen us.”
“That isn’t enough.”
“No.”
“What else?”
Rebecca swallowed.
“She found a folder.”
Daniel’s heartbeat changed.
“What folder?”
“Claire’s.”
“What was in it?”
“Copies of Baycrest invoices.”
Daniel stared.
“When?”
“Three months ago.”
“Where?”
“In Claire’s study.”
“What happened?”
“Emily showed it to me because she recognized my company name.”
Daniel closed his eyes.
His daughter had found the RSC Communications invoice.
“What did you tell her?”
“That it was old and unimportant.”
“And then?”
“I took it.”
“Where is it?”
“Caleb has it.”
Daniel leaned forward.
“You started telling everyone Emily was dishonest after she found financial evidence linking you to Caleb.”
Rebecca nodded.
She looked sick.
“I didn’t think of it that way at first.”
“How did you think of it?”
“As controlling a problem.”
“She is a child.”
“I know.”
“You keep saying that after every terrible thing.”
Tears appeared in Rebecca’s eyes.
“I know.”
Daniel stood and walked away before anger made him cruel.
Rebecca said behind him, “There’s more.”
He stopped.
“Caleb didn’t just want the East Harbor sale.”
“What did he want?”
“Mercer Development.”
Daniel turned.
Rebecca continued.
“Baycrest planned to acquire East Harbor first. Once the company’s debt ratios worsened after the separation, Caleb expected investors to push for a merger.”
“With Baycrest?”
“Yes.”
“And his stake?”
“He would become executive chairman of the combined company.”
Daniel finally understood the endgame.
Steal millions through hidden vendors.
Use some money to finance a buyer.
Acquire the most valuable division cheaply.
Destabilize Mercer Development.
Then merge the weakened remainder into the same investment structure.
Caleb would transform stolen influence into permanent control.
Rebecca whispered, “He told me I would receive eight million dollars.”
“For what?”
“Helping.”
“Helping him steal my company?”
“Yes.”
“And marrying me.”
Rebecca looked down.
“Yes.”
Daniel laughed without humor.
“Eight million.”
“At first.”
“What does that mean?”
“I asked for more.”
“How much?”
“Twenty.”
Daniel stared at her.
She had negotiated the price of betraying him.
Rebecca wiped her eyes.
“I’m not asking you to forgive me.”
“Good.”
“I’m trying to stop him.”
“No. You’re trying to survive him.”
She looked up.
“Yes.”
That honesty mattered more than tears.
Maya’s phone rang.
Caroline.
The board had received a formal offer from Baycrest.
Not just for East Harbor.
For a controlling merger with Mercer Development.
The vote was scheduled in seven days.
Caleb owned seven percent directly.
He had gathered proxy commitments from several outside investors.
Daniel still owned sixty-two percent.
But his voting rights were being challenged under the forged “incapacity” documents.
Caleb’s lawyers claimed Daniel had validly delegated authority before his suspension.
The final battle would not be emotional.
May you like
It would be legal.
And Daniel’s signatures—real and forged—would decide who controlled the company Claire helped build.
